Rory McIlroy is already looking forward to playing under Luke Donald for a third straight time at the Adare Manor Ryder Cup next year and feels retaining him as captain gives Europe an advantage over the USA who will have a new skipper.
The biennial contest will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and Donald will have the chance to mark the occasion with his own piece of history as he attempts to become the first Captain to lead a Ryder Cup team to three consecutive victories.
McIlroy, who has been absolutely pivotal in Europe’s triumphs in Rome and Bethpage, was delighted to see Donald retained for a third term.
“It’s great,” he said. “I’ve absolutely loved playing under Luke for the last two Ryder Cups. Hopefully if I make the team I’m going to look forward to playing under him for a third time. it’s incredible, looking forward to it. Under Luke we know the team is going to be very strong again and we are going to go there and look to make history.”
Donald led Europe to a first away win since 2012 last September and became only the second captain after Tony Jacklin in 1985 and 1987 to captain home and away victories. McIlroy believes retaining the Englishman was a no brainer and feels the continuity in the team will give the hosts an advantage in Limerick.
“I think it’s obviously a huge advantage for the European team to have that continuity and that consistency,” said McIlroy. “I was sort of banging on that drum going into Bethpage. And we’ll have it even more so again, you know. We might not have — the team may be a little bit different, or it could be, you know it was obviously really similar to Bethpage to what it was in Rome. I maybe envision a couple other guys maybe breaking their way on to the team. But it’s wonderful to have Luke back.
“There’s not one player or one person behind the scenes that helps with Ryder Cup Europe that isn’t thrilled that Luke agreed to come back and do it again.”
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